EDWARD JONES, FIRST BLACK TO GRADUATE COLLEGE

Born to a Mulatto who bought the freedom of himself, wife and children Jones grew up in Charleston SC. His father became a wealthy businessman and although he associated only with mulattos, particularly belonging to an aristocratic group who fought for the patriots in the revolutionary war Edward himself was proud of his African ancestry and on this day August 23rd in 1826 became the 1st African American to graduate college earning a degree from Amherst college. He later would become missionary for the colony of Sierra leone which our prayers go out to today after they’ve just suffered a natural disaster. Jones died in England in 1865 the year slaves in America would finally be free.